A North Vernon man is facing charges after deputies discovered stolen equipment and drugs in his pickup last week.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to a Campbell Township address on Thursday after several items were stolen, including chainsaws, a concrete saw and a propane heater. Evidence gathered at the scene led deputies to go to a home in the township where they found 43-year-old Kenneth C. Redkey in his vehicle in the driveway.

While talking with Redkey, deputies noticed several of the stolen pieces of equipment in the bed of the pickup. A search also uncovered more stolen items as well as methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Redkey was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of stolen property as well as for possessing the drugs and paraphernalia.

The stolen items were returned to their owner.

Three Columbus juveniles in a stolen vehicle crashed into an apartment complex early Sunday morning.

According to the Columbus Police Department, officers were called to the Steinhurst Manor Apartments on Salzburg Boulevard at about 3:10 a.m. in the morning Sunday after the car crashed into the building, causing minor damage.

Police say that three 16-year-olds were soon caught running from the area. Officers also determined that the license plate and vehicle had been reported stolen, and that the ignition had been damaged.

All three teens were taken to the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center on preliminary charges of possession of stolen property, resisting law enforcement
and curfew violations.

A Columbus man is being accused of using a green laser to light up airplanes and police vehicles in the community. And of dealing drugs while doing it.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, authorities have had several recent reports of someone shining the laser at aircraft in the area, but could not identify a suspect. At 10:38 p.m. on Friday evening, deputies responded to another call about the laser and again initially couldn’t find a suspect, but about 20 minutes later a deputy driving near U.S. 31 and Interstate 65 noticed a green laser coming from a car. And the laser was pointed at the police vehicle as it drove by.

The vehicle was pulled over and the driver 49-year-old Christopher Clem admitted to deputies that he had pointed the laser at aircraft. A search of the vehicle uncovered two lasers along with a handgun, methamphetamine and crushed prescription pills.

Clem was arrested on preliminary charges of Pointing a Laser at a Public Safety Official, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a controlled substance and Dealing in a Controlled Substance. All charges were enhanced because of the handgun.

U.S. Air Marshalls and the Federal Aviation Administration continue to investigate the aircraft incidents.

Evidence photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Seymour rescue workers were called out Saturday after a woman was stuck about 40 feet off the ground after climbing around safety barriers on a Burkart Boulevard railroad overpass.

According to Seymour Police Department, emergency workers were called to the new bridge after a woman, later identified as 33-year-old Rachel Adams of Seymour, climbed over a guardrail, around protective fencing, past warning signs and then onto a narrow ledge overlooking the railroad tracks. Once there, she couldn’t climb back out without risking a fall, police say. Authorities contacted the Louisville & Indiana Railroad to delay an incoming train, while Seymour firefighters drove a ladder truck onto a road alongside the railroad tracks.

Firefighters rescued Adams and once safe, she was arrested on a charge of criminal trespassing.

Authorities say there is a pedestrian pathway on the bridge. By ignoring the signs and circumventing the safety barriers, trespassers put not only themselves at risk but also rescue workers.

Photos courtesy of Seymour Police Department

SPARK Jackson County is announcing the winners of the program’s first pitch competition, held last week.

Six contestants pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges, with a chance to win a share of $15,000 in funding.

Nadia Herrera was the top winner of the $10,000 prize. Her business idea “NH by Nadia Herrera” will offer dresses and services to help those planning Quinceañera celebrations.

Stephanie Strothmann won the second place prize of $5,000 for her “For Love of Beer and Dogs” dog treat business.

One of the judges, Eddie Murphy of SpaceGuard Products, also spontaneously decided to award Dr. Nathan Otte of Dr. Nate Optometrist $5,000 to support his ideas for eye screenings for elementary school students.

The SPARK Tank competition and awards are made possible by a Community Collaboration Fund grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Spark Jackson County is an initiative of the Jackson County Chamber, funded last fall by the grants which were meant to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship with a focus on underrepresented founders and underserved markets.

Organizers also thanked the STARTedUp Foundation for its support of the program.

More than 100 people attended Thursday night’s event.

Smoke alarms allowed a family to escape from an early morning fire Saturday near Taylorsville.

According to the German Township Fire Department, emergency crews were called to the home fire at just before 4 a.m. Saturday morning on County Road 650N east of Taylorsville. When firefighters arrived, they discovered heavy smoke coming from the rear of the home. The homeowner said that they were woken by the smoke alarm and were able to evacuate the family, which included four children.

Firefighters fought through heavy smoke and high heat to find the fire in the kitchen which they quickly put out. A search of the home found that three dogs, two cats and a pet lizard were all safe.

Medics from Columbus Regional Health treated one person at the scene for a minor injury.

Firefighters say that working smoke detectors save lives and that the homeowner’s quick actions prevented a tragedy.

Also working at the scene were the Clifford and Edinburgh fire departments along with Bartholomew County deputies and Edinburgh police.

Edinburgh’s police dog Kira has died after a short illness.

According to the Edinburgh Police Department, Kira and her handler, Officer Ryan Coy, were taking part in monthly training on Thursday when she became ill. She was taken to a veterinarian hospital where she was diagnosed with pneumonia and an infection. Treatments were not successful and she died on Saturday in the arms of her handler and in the company of officers from several departments.

Edinburgh police thanked Lawrence police officer Adam Hazlewood, Bartholomew County Deputy Jessica Pendleton along with Bartholomew County units and Hope Police Department, as well as Andy Grider from 31 Auto for their support.

Indiana University Columbus is going to be holding tryouts for its first competitive cheer and dance teams later this month.

IU Columbus is now in its second season with varsity athletics, and its first year as a full member of the NAIA, joining the River States Conference. The Crimson Pride programs include men’s and women’s cross country, baseball, and softball, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s soccer. IU Columbus is adding men’s and women’s basketball and competitive cheer and dance teams this year.

Current and prospective IU Columbus students who are interested in joining the cheer or dance team for the 2024-25 school year are invited to audition. Auditions will be held February 24th at Ceraland Park on South County Road 525E in Columbus.

A morning session will be for dance tryouts, and the afternoon for cheer; but students are welcome to audition for both.

In December, the school announced that Pati Lara has been chosen as the first coach. Lara is coming from Texas where she was director, head instructor and choreographer of the Elite Academy of Dance for more than 20 years. She trained from the age of four at the British ballet and graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso. Lara moved to Columbus in December.

To apply for the session and get additional information on how to prepare for the audition, you can email Lara at pati.lara@iu.edu before Feb. 17.

Punxsutawney Phil and Bartholomew County’s own Groundhog, Hope, are in agreement. Neither the famous Pennsylvania rodent nor his local counterpart saw their shadows this morning. According to folklore that means we won’t see six more weeks of winter.

This was the 11th year for the Hope, Indiana festivities on the Town Square. The local event was organized by MainStreet of Hope and Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators, where Hope the groundhog lives as a rescued animal at the shelter.

Photo courtesy Main Street of Hope.